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Effects of Esketamine on Postoperative Delirium and Postoperative Cognitive Function in Elderly Gastrointestinal Tumor Patients with Preoperative Anxiety

Jin Zha, Hao Chen, Zijie Sun, Rui Shi, Rufang Yan, Longmei Guo, Xiaoshu Chen, Xiaoying Lan, Huansen Huang, Lingzhi Wang

Drug Design Development and Therapy October 1, 2025 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s528902 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed
Population Elderly patients with preoperative anxiety undergoing gastrointestinal tumor surgery
Intervention Esketamine
Dose 0.25 mg/kg
Topics Anxiety Esketamine
Citations 4
Key findings Administering low-dose intravenous esketamine (0.25 mg/kg) during anesthesia induction decreases the incidence of POD and improves early postoperative cognitive function in elderly patients with preoperative anxiety having gastrointestinal tumor surgery.

Abstract

In elderly patients with preoperative anxiety who undergo gastrointestinal tumor surgery, administering a low-dose intravenous esketamine injection (0.25 mg/kg) during anesthesia induction can decrease the incidence of POD and improve early postoperative cognitive function.

In the evidence

This study is part of the evidence base for a synthesis in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.

  • State of the evidence: Esketamine for anxiety Supports

    Low-dose intravenous esketamine (0.25 mg/kg) during anesthesia induction decreased postoperative delirium incidence and improved early postoperative cognitive function.

    Synthesized

Comparable studies

Other randomized controlled trials on esketamine for anxiety, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Meaningful Change in Depression Symptoms Assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) Among Patients with Treatment Resistant Depression in Two, Randomized, Double-blind, Active-controlled Trials of Esketamine Nasal Spray Combined With a New Oral Antidepressant Patients with treatment resistant depression 2020 Randomized controlled trial
Treatment Response With Esketamine Nasal Spray Plus an Oral Antidepressant in Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression Without Evidence of Early Response Patients with treatment-resistant depression 2021 Pooled post hoc analysis of two phase 3, double-blind, active-controlled studies
Predictors of response and remission in patients with treatment-resistant depression: A post hoc pooled analysis of two acute trials of esketamine nasal spray Patients with treatment-resistant depression 2023 Post hoc analysis of two pooled phase 3 double-blind placebo- and active-controlled trials n = 518
Assessment of health-related quality of life and health status in patients with treatment-resistant depression treated with esketamine nasal spray plus an oral antidepressant Patients aged 18-64 years with treatment-resistant depression 2023 Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, short-term flexibly dosed study n = 223
The effect of esketamine on postoperative anxiety and depression in patients with thyroid cancer: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial. Female patients with thyroid cancer scheduled for surgery under general anesthesia 2025 Randomized controlled trial n = 80

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